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The Risks and Benefits of Technology for Children

 Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog! This week in class, we discussed technology and the effects that it has on us. For my blog posting this week, I want to discuss the benefits and risks of technology in children. 

Technology plays a vital role in our everyday lives. Even if we aren't the biggest fans of technology, it is almost impossible to get away from it. Whether we need it for school, at home or our jobs, we use it at least once a day. If you don't believe me, just think about your car. If you have a car model between about 2012 to now, it has many technological advances. We use technology so much that it has become natural without realizing it. I have seen many technological advances since I was growing up. When I was in elementary school, we used laptops and computers for AR testing and other activities. It was essential for us to know how to operate a computer because the school system understood that we would be using them throughout our lives. The computers were censored and had a lot of websites blocked, so we couldn't roam the world wide web freely. Also, in elementary and middle school, we had cell phones, but they were flip phones. They had the internet but no way to download apps to them. Fast forward 15 years later, and so much has changed. 



Technology has taken over the world by storm. Almost everything is technologically advanced. The younger generation is basically being exposed to technology as soon as they come out of the womb, and they can swipe and operate phones and tablets by the time they turn 2. Technology has many benefits for children, but technology also has risks. I believe that it is all about finding the perfect balance between the two. Many parents allow their children to use technology with restrictions. Technology for children can be used as learning tools in and outside of the classrooms, but too much screen time can lead to declines in the effects of learning without technology. According to early results of a landmark study on the brain development of more than 11,000 children, supported by the National Institutes of Health, as reported in the New York Times, children who spent more than two hours a day looking at a screen had lower scores on thinking and language tests. This study also discovered that the development of the brain is different for children who spend an extensive amount of time on social media. 

Kimberly Robinson, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown, said the devices interfere with relationships. Robinson discussed that when there aren't any activities planned for children then technology becomes the activity that interferes with what could've potentially been family time. Robinson stated that parents play into this habit because they're using their technological devices too such as cell phones. “Parents are often attached to their devices too, and there is some concern that this affects early childhood interactions, due to lack of response to young children and infants’ facial expressions,” she said. “That interferes with mirroring in development of early social connections.”

Technology in the classroom helps young children, especially those who are visual learners. On the other hand, asking children to complete assignments using a technological device such as a tablet or computer can increase distraction. “It’s important for parents to keep a healthy balance of physical and imaginative activities in their kids’ lives, as opposed to allowing them to self-regulate, which most kids and teens will not do. Many preteens would rather stay on their Xbox on a nice day than go outside and use their imagination. Their devices provide them with unlimited stimulus and entertainment, along with a perceived social connection through online group play.”

I believe that children should be exposed to technology but with restrictions. It is important for children to know technology and how to use it because the older they get, the more they will need to know how to use and operate it. What do you guys think? Is it beneficial for children o be exposed to technology early on? Let me know in the comments. 


See you all online next week! 

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